Page 72 of The Way You Bite
If she hadn’t seen her own arm change, she might believe Trace. She zeroed in on Blay. “Who killed my mother, if it wasn’t you?”
“I don’t know,” Blay replied.
Lexan folded his arms across his chest. His face, closed and dangerous, glared distrust at Trace. “Vee, we should talk in private now that you’re awake.”
The room shifted as she stood. Light-headed. She managed to walk a straight line to Lexan, drawn by the need to be close to him. She needed to confirm he’d survived the silver toxicosis without residual issues. His arms unfolded. She wanted to touch but stopped when his broad chest was mere inches from her aching chest. She attempted to keep her breathing slow and even in order to fake calm, but it didn’t work. His gaze lowered to her heaving chest. Then his lashes lifted to reveal a heat so intense that her entire body caught fire. He ran his knuckles lightly up her arm, leaving a wake of goose bumps. “Come.”
“Don’t you dare go with him. He’s dangerous!”Trace screamed at her mentally.“He’s mesmerizing you. Break free of this trance.”
Lexan held her arm as if he understood her weakness.
“Are you...well?” His voice was like a narcotic, flooding her system with the insane need for him. She had to be susceptible to his female charm ability despite everyone claiming otherwise. Even if so, right now she didn’t care. She was so relieved he lived and was here with her.
She nodded. Lethargy diminished, leaving a gut-wrenching craving. To bite him. To be with him again. Okay, bite first.
Lexan’s gaze dipped down her body, pausing on her chest. His thought echoed in her mind,“Run with me. All fur. In the moonlight. Then, I’ll give you what you want.”
She stared at him, remembering him as a wolf. She couldn’t imagine herself with fur, definitely not shifting into something not vampire. The afterward part? She could be on board with that.
“Does my neck tempt you, catifea?”The low rumble of his voice in her head warmed her.
She’d ingested so much of his blood, even if it’d been tainted, but even now it wasn’t enough. She needed more.“Starving.”
“I will only let you drink if you run with me.”
“After we run, then,”she agreed.
He took her hand.
Before they exited Trace called out, “You’re Aleksander Dimitrov, aren’t you?”
“Lexan.” His muscles tensed. She wondered if he’d attack Trace. Instead, he said low, “Surprising we never met back when you were fucking my wife. She must’ve secreted you out of my house before I got there.”
Color drained from Trace’s face. His mouth worked, but no words came out.
Blay said, “You were used, Trace. She was a bitch whose sole focus was power. And to hurt Lexan.” Blay shrugged as if over the matter.
“It is in the past.” Lexan’s grip on her hand hurt. She stretched her fingers inside his clasp. He loosened and shot her a quick apologetic gaze.
“Why haven’t you come after me before?” Trace asked in a whisper. “Is that why I’m here?”
Lexan’s gaze met Blay’s. “As Blay said, she used you. Your future is your choice. Bless her dead soul; she’d get a thrill out of males fighting over her. I stopped caring about her antics long before you two became involved.”
Lexan’s expression softened when it met hers. He whispered in her ear, “The time to run under the moon draws close. I sense your fear, but it’ll be okay. Do you trust me?”
Did she trust him? She thought so.
Trace’s thoughts blasted into her skull.“Snap out of it. He’s doing his mesmerizing thing again. I’m going to get us both out of here.”
Blay stared at her with concern. “Is it time?”
“Soon.” Lexan pulled her out of the room.
Her head swirled as they stepped into the hallway. “I might need something before running. Food…or something else.”
“Nosomething elsefrom me until after we run, but food can be had.” He led her into a vacant kitchen. “Sit.” He walked to the windows and closed the blinds where waning sunlight filtered in. From the refrigerator he removed orange juice and held up the container.
She nodded as she took a barstool at the island counter, although she wasn’t sure the juice’s acidity would agree with her stomach. “You wolves sure do have a thing for OJ.”
